2012 Farm Progress Hay Expo Location Announced

Central Iowa will host the 2012 Farm Progress Hay Expo June 20 and 21. The nation's largest two day hay event will be held at the Central Iowa Expo facilities located near Boone, the same location used for the Farm Progress Show when it is held in Iowa.

"We are excited about the opportunity to host the 2012 Hay Expo at the Central Iowa Expo site," said Darrel Rensink, board chair, Central Iowa Expo. "Agriculture is an important industry to our state. This event will provide residents and visitors a chance to experience the newest technology and meet leaders in the industry."

The 26th annual Hay Expo marks the fourth time the show has been held in central Iowa. The Hay Expo will be held on the Central Iowa Expo grounds, just east of Boone, Iowa, on Highway 30. The exhibit field and parking for the Hay Expo will take place within the grounds, and all demonstrations will be located on the alfalfa that will be used as parking lots during the Farm Progress Show to be held in August of 2012. The 2011 Farm Progress Show will be held Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 near Decatur, Ill.

"A central Iowa location makes a lot of sense for both exhibitors and visitors coming to the Hay Expo," said Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress national events manager. "With two interstates and a major highway all located close to the site, it allows for quicker and easier access from any of Iowa's surrounding states."

"This premier agricultural event will attract thousands of travelers to central Iowa next June," said Kurt Phillips, executive director, Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. "We look forward to welcoming these visitors to the area and showing them all that Boone County has to offer."

The Hay Expo has a history of choosing a new location each year. The show location rotates and has been held in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Hay Expo has grown and evolved over the years and continues as the best resource for forage producers to see and learn about the latest technology, products and services for their industry.

Sponsored by Farm Progress publications Wallaces Farmer, Wisconsin Agriculturist and The Farmer, the Hay Expo offers an all-encompassing profile of the new hay and forage technology, with an extensive exhibit field and working equipment demonstrations conducted throughout each day.

The two-day hay extravaganza will showcase mowing, conditioning, baling, hay handling and silage demonstrations on alfalfa. Visitors will be able to compare the various equipment brands operating side by side under actual field conditions.

A 10-acre exhibit site will display balers, choppers, mower-conditioners, tedders, baggers, rakes, telehandlers, bale stackers, hay dryers and more. In addition to the outdoor lots, the Haying Industries Tent will feature other products and services. Product specialists will be on hand to discuss forage seed, hay marketing, crop protection and production, conservation and crop insurance. Exhibitors plan to showcase a host of new products aimed at boosting the efficiency and profitability of hay and forage production.

The 2012 Farm Progress Hay Expo will be held June 20 and 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The show site is located off of Highway 30, east of Boone, Iowa, at Central Iowa Expo. Admission is free; parking is $10 per vehicle. The public is welcome. For more information, visit www.HayExpo.com or call 866-264-7469.